Explaining that the words “We have apportioned” mean that He (God) bestows on one the lust and (physical) strength of asses and on another the intelligence and (spiritual) strength of the prophets and the angels. “To turn the head away from sensual desire is (a mark of) nobility; to abandon sensual desire is (a mark of) the (spiritual) strength that belongs to prophethood.” “The seeds that are not sown in lust—their fruit only appears at the Resurrection.”

گر بدش سستی نری خران ** بود او را مردی پیغامبران 4025

If he (the Caliph) was deficient in the masculinity of asses, (yet) he possessed the manliness of the prophets.

ترک خشم و شهوت و حرص‌آوری ** هست مردی و رگ پیغامبری

It is (true) manliness and the nature of prophethood to abandon anger and lust and greed.

نری خر گو مباش اندر رگش ** حق همی خواند الغ بگلربگش

Let the masculinity of the ass be lacking in his nature, (what of that?): God calls him the great Beylerbey.

مرده‌ای باشم به من حق بنگرد ** به از آن زنده که باشد دور و رد

(If) I be a dead man and (if) God look on me (with favour), (my case is) better than (that of) the living man who is far (from God) and rejected (by Him).

مغز مردی این شناس و پوست آن ** آن برد دوزخ برد این در جنان

Recognise this (abandonment of sensuality) to be the kernel of manliness, and that (indulgence in sensuality) to be the husk: the latter leads to Hell, the former to Paradise.

حفت الجنه مکاره را رسید ** حفت النار از هوا آمد پدید 4030

(The Tradition) “Paradise is encompassed with things disliked” has come (down to us); “Hell-fire is encompassed with sensual desire” has been declared.

ای ایاز شیر نر دیوکش ** مردی خر کم فزون مردی هش

“O Ayáz, fierce demon-killing lion, (thou in whom) the manliness of the ass is inferior (subjugated), the manliness of Reason superior (predominant),

آنچ چندین صدر ادراکش نکرد ** لعب کودک بود پیشت اینت مرد

That which so many eminent persons did not apprehend was to thee child's play: lo, here is the (true) man!

ای به دیده لذت امر مرا ** جان سپرده بهر امرم در وفا

O thou who hast felt the delight of (obeying) my command and hast loyally devoted thy life for the sake of my command,

داستان ذوق امر و چاشنیش ** بشنو اکنون در بیان معنویش

Now hearken to the tale of the savour and relish of (obeying) the (Divine) command (as related) in the (following) spiritual exposition thereof.”

How the King (Mahmud), in the midst of (the company present in) the Diwán and assembly-place, put a pearl in the hand of the Vizier and asked him what it was worth; and how the Vizier gave an extremely high estimate of its value; and when the King commanded hi to break it, answered, “How should I break it?” and so forth.

شاه روزی جانب دیوان شتافت ** جمله ارکان را در آن دیوان بیافت 4035

One day the King hastened to the Diwán: in the Diwán he found all the courtiers (assembled).

گوهری بیرون کشید او مستنیر ** پس نهادش زود در کف وزیر

He produced a radiant pearl and immediately put it in the palm of the Vizier.

گفت چونست و چه ارزد این گهر ** گفت به ارزد ز صد خروار زر

“How about this pearl?” he asked, “and what is it worth?” He replied, “ is worth more than a hundred ass-loads of gold.”

گفت بشکن گفت چونش بشکنم ** نیک‌خواه مخزن و مالت منم

He said, “Break it!” “How should I break it?” he replied: “I am a well-wisher to thy treasury and riches.

چون روا دارم که مثل این گهر ** که نیاید در بها گردد هدر

How should I deem it allowable that a priceless pearl like this should go to waste?”

گفت شاباش و بدادش خلعتی ** گوهر از وی بستد آن شاه و فتی 4040

“Well said!” exclaimed the King and presented him with a dress of honour; the generous King took the pearl from him,

کرد ایثار وزیر آن شاه جود ** هر لباس و حله کو پوشیده بود

(But) the munificent monarch bestowed on the Vizier every garment and robe that he wore.

ساعتیشان کرد مشغول سخن ** از قضیه تازه و راز کهن

For a while he engaged them (the courtiers) in conversation concerning new event and old mystery.

بعد از آن دادش به دست حاجبی ** که چه ارزد این به پیش طالبی

Afterwards he put it (the pearl) into the hand of a chamber lain, saying, “What is it worth to a would-be purchaser?

گفت ارزد این به نیمه‌ی مملکت ** کش نگهدارا خدا از مهلکت

He replied, “It is worth half a kingdom: may God preserve it from destruction!”

گفت بشکن گفت ای خورشیدتیغ ** بس دریغست این شکستن را دریغ 4045

“Break it,” said he. “O thou whose sword is like the sun he replied, “alas, ‘tis a great pity to break it.

قیمتش بگذار بین تاب و لمع ** که شدست این نور روز او را تبع

Let alone its value, mark its splendour and brilliancies: this (shining) daylight has become second to it.

دست کی جنبد مرا در کسر او ** که خزینه‌ی شاه را باشم عدو

How should my hand make a movement to break it? How should I be an enemy to the King’s treasure-house?”

شاه خلعت داد ادرارش فزود ** پس دهان در مدح عقل او گشود

The King gave him a robe of honour and increased his stipend, and then opened his mouth in praise of his (the chamberlain’s) intelligence;